초록 ▼

An absorbent article, such as a feminine care product, includes a liquid permeable top cover, a generally liquid impermeable baffle, and an absorbent structure disposed between the top cover and outer cover. The garment facing side of the baffle includes hook material as a primary attachment mechani

An absorbent article, such as a feminine care product, includes a liquid permeable top cover, a generally liquid impermeable baffle, and an absorbent structure disposed between the top cover and outer cover. The garment facing side of the baffle includes hook material as a primary attachment mechanism between the baffle and the undergarment. The top cover is a hook compatible material that is releasably attachable to the hook material such that the article can be rolled into a tube-like configuration wherein the hook material is releasably engaged with the hook compatible material for maintaining the article in a rolled configuration. A protective backing sheet is disposed between the top cover and the garment facing side of the baffle in the rolled configuration of the article. The backing sheet has at least one dimension that is less than a corresponding dimension of the article such that a limited portion of the top cover material is releasably engaged by the hook material for maintaining the article in the rolled configuration.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A rolled absorbent article for placement in the crotch region of an undergarment, comprising: a generally liquid permeable top cover; a generally liquid impermeable baffle having a garment facing side; an absorbent structure disposed between said top cover and said baffle; sa

What is claimed is: 1. A rolled absorbent article for placement in the crotch region of an undergarment, comprising: a generally liquid permeable top cover; a generally liquid impermeable baffle having a garment facing side; an absorbent structure disposed between said top cover and said baffle; said garment facing side of said baffle comprising hook material defined in a pattern on the surface thereof, said hook material providing a primary attachment mechanism between said baffle and the undergarment; said top cover comprising a hook compatible material that is releasably attachable to said hook material on said garment facing side of said baffle; said article rolled into a tube-like configuration; and a protective backing sheet disposed between said top cover and said garment facing side of said baffle in said rolled configuration of said article, said backing sheet having at least one dimension that is less than a corresponding dimension of said article such that a limited portion of said top cover hook compatible material is releasably engaged by said hook material for maintaining said article in said rolled configuration. 2. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein between about 75% to about 95% of the surface area of said top cover is protected by said backing sheet from engagement with said hook material. 3. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said protective backing sheet is a hook compatible material and is disposed against said garment facing side of said baffle prior to rolling said article. 4. The absorbent article as in claim 3, wherein said protective backing sheet comprises a nonwoven material. 5. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said protective backing sheet is a poly film material that is not attachable to said hook material. 6. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said protective backing sheet is shorter than said top cover in a longitudinal direction of said article and is disposed such that a single longitudinal edge portion of said top cover is exposed for engagement with said hook material. 7. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said protective backing sheet comprises a shape and is disposed such that a border of said top cover is exposed around a perimeter of said protective backing sheet. 8. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said protective backing sheet is disposed against said top cover prior to rolling said article. 9. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said article is rolled from one longitudinal end thereof towards an opposite longitudinal end, said exposed portion of said top cover defined at said opposite longitudinal end. 10. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said article is rolled from one lateral side thereof towards an opposite lateral side, said exposed portion of said top cover defined at said opposite lateral side. 11. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said article is wrapped in a wrapping material. 12. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said article is rolled such that said baffle is outwardly facing. 13. The absorbent article as in claim 12, wherein said protective backing sheet is also outwardly facing. 14. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said article is roiled such that said top cover is outwardly facing. 15. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said pattern of hook material comprises longitudinally disposed stripes of said hook material. 16. The absorbent article as in claim 15, wherein said stripes of said hook material have a width of about one-half of a distance between adjacent said stripes. 17. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said hook material is defined on between about 25% to about 50% of a total surface area of said garment facing side of said baffle such that at least about 50% of said baffle is vapor permeable and said hook material is provided in an amount and placed to ensure that said hook material securely attaches said article to a wearer's undergarment. 18. The absorbent article as in claim 17, wherein hook material is defined in a pattern on said baffle to create a generally uniform vapor permeability profile over the surface area thereof. 19. The absorbent article as in claim 18, wherein said hook material is defined in a pattern of spaced longitudinal stripes. 20. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said hook material is defined in generally continuous regions extending from one lateral side or longitudinal end of said article to an opposite respective lateral side or longitudinal end. 21. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said hook material is defined in generally discontinuous regions. 22. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said hook compatible material of said top cover comprises a liquid permeable nonwoven material. 23. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said baffle comprises a base material with said hook material laminated directly onto said base material. 24. The absorbent article as in claim 1, wherein said article is one of a sanitary napkin, panty liner, and adult incontinent article. 25. The absorbent article as in claim 1, further comprising an additional personal care absorbent device rolled into said article. 26. The absorbent article as in claim 25, wherein said additional personal care absorbent device comprises a vaginal insert device. 27. An absorbent article for placement in the crotch region of an undergarment, comprising: a generally liquid permeable top cover; a generally liquid impermeable and vapor permeable baffle having a garment facing side; an absorbent structure disposed between said top cover and said baffle; said garment facing side of said baffle comprising a hook material in a pattern such that said hook material provides a sole attachment mechanism between said baffle and the undergarment; said top cover comprising a hook compatible material that is releasably attachable to said hook material on said garment facing side of said baffle; and a hook compatible protective backing sheet releasably attached to said garment facing side of said baffle, said protective backing sheet having at least one dimension that is less than a corresponding dimension of said baffle such that at least a portion of said hook material is exposed along at least one edge of said garment facing side of said baffle. 28. The absorbent article as in claim 27, wherein said protective backing sheet generally overlies said garment facing side of said baffle except for an exposed region at one longitudinal end of said baffle. 29. The absorbent article as in claim 27, wherein said protective backing sheet generally overlies said garment facing side of said baffle except for an exposed circumferential region around said backing sheet. 30. The absorbent article as in claim 27, wherein said protective backing sheet is a nonwoven material. 31. The absorbent article as in claim 27, wherein said hook material is defined in a pattern on said garment facing side of said baffle such that a generally uniform vapor permeability profile is established over the surface area of said baffle garment facing side. 32. The absorbent article as in claim 31, wherein said pattern of hook material comprises longitudinally disposed stripes of said hook material. 33. The absorbent article as in claim 32, wherein said stripes of said hook material have a width of about one-half of a distance between adjacent said stripes. 34. The absorbent article as in claim 31, wherein said hook material is defined on about 25% of a total surface area of said baffle garment facing side. 35. A method for packaging absorbent articles intended for placement in the crotch region of an undergarment, the absorbent article having a baffle with hook material provided on a garment facing side thereof, and a top cover formed of a hook compatible material, said method comprising placing a protective backing sheet against one of the top cover and garment facing side of the baffle and rolling the article into a tube-like configuration; the protective backing sheet having a size and configuration such that at least a portion of the hook material releasably engages with a portion of the top cover to maintain the article in the rolled tube-like configuration. 36. The method as in claim 35, further comprising wrapping the rolled article in an individual wrapper. 37. The method as in claim 35, further comprising forming a plurality of the rolled articles into a package of the articles. 38. The method as in claim 35, comprising placing the protective backing sheet against the garment facing side of the baffle prior to said rolling such that a portion of the hook material at a first longitudinal end of the article is exposed, and rolling the article from the opposite longitudinal end towards the first longitudinal end. 39. The method as in claim 35, comprising placing the protective backing sheet against the garment facing side of the baffle prior to said rolling such that a portion of the hook material at a first lateral side of the article is exposed, and rolling the article from the opposite lateral side towards the first lateral side. 40. The method as in claim 35, further comprising placing an additional absorbent device in article prior to rolling the article into the tube-like configuration. 41. The method as in claim 35, comprising rolling the article in a direction such that the baffle and protective backing sheet are outwardly facing.